Tuesday 18th November 2014, Saffron Walden: Residents for Uttlesford (R4U), the local advocacy group for towns and villages, has announced that sitting councillor Keith Mackman has been selected as its party leader on the District Council; and that Newport residents are now supporting its bid to gain control of UDC in 2015 and are bringing their own candidates forward.
R4U party chair, John Lodge said “The campaign to give residents a real say is gaining momentum. In the last month we gained 4 councillors at UDC when Conservatives David Watson, Heather Asker and Keith Mackman crossed the floor, and they were joined by former Independent Joanna Parry. We are now excited to announce Keith Mackman as leader. He is an experienced councillor who is well respected by his constituents; he is straight-talking, hardworking, and has consistently defied the party whip and supported the views and needs of residents.”
With 4 new councillors Residents for Uttlesford has taken seats on the Planning, Scrutiny, Performance and Audit, Staff Appeals, Standards, Constitution Working Group, Licensing and Environmental Health Committees.
Residents for Uttlesford has also announced that residents group Save Newport Village has formally joined the R4U election bid, along with Saffron Walden based residents representatives. These settlements will be represented by 9 district councillors in 2015.
Uttlesford District Councillor Joanna Parry of Residents-for-Uttlesford announced a second prospective candidate for the Newport ward. Cllr Parry of Newport said “We’re very happy to be joined by Neil Hargreaves for the 2015 Newport ward election bid. He is a founder member of the Newport residents group and will bring an experienced and energetic voice for the people of the Newport, Quendon, Rickling and Widdington ward.”
L-R: Dan Starr, Keith Mackman, Sharon Morris, John Lodge, Neil Hargreaves, Barbara Light, Richard Freeman